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December 30, 2015

Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for more than 9,000 Ford Escape and Ford Focus ST models. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some of those vehicles may suffer from an electrical problem that could cause vehicles to stall unexpectedly.

The problem is rooted in the engine wiring harness, which could result in improper signals being sent to the vehicles' powertrain control module. And that, in turn, could have some very troubling effects. According to NHTSA:

[C]ertain splices in the engine wiring harness may not be sufficiently crimped, resulting in the potential for high resistance in engine sensor circuits. High resistance in these circuits may result in engine performance issues that can include illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL), reduced engine power, hesitation, running rough, or stall without warning. Engine stalls while driving with no warning may increase the risk of a crash.

The recall affects the following models:

2013 Ford Escape vehicles built between January 11, 2012 and April 1, 2013

2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles built between May 3, 2012 and October 14, 2013

Ford says that it will mail recall notices to owners no later than January 4, 2016. After receiving those notices, owners will be able to take their vehicles to Ford dealers, who will replace the existing crimped splices at no charge.

If you believe that you own one of these vehicles and have questions in the meantime, you're encouraged to contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 and ask about recall #14S17-S1. If you like, you can also call NHTSA at 888-327-4236 and ask about safety campaign #15V813000.